Dozens of Phila. Cabbies Nabbed in Immigration Sting

by KYW's John McDevitt

Federal immigration agents conducted a sting operation on a group of Philadelphia taxicab drivers suspected of being in the country illegally, arresting 23 of them.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement ("ICE") officials say the Philadelphia Parking Authority was solicited to summon, on a ruse, taxi drivers who were identified as possibly being illegal immigrants.

John Kelleghan is special agent in charge of ICE in Philadelphia:

"Primarily we were targeting this particular group because we are tasked to ensure the public safety with regards to critical infrastructure areas such as the airport, the seaport, the train station, and so forth."

Nineteen of the 23 taxi drivers were arrested, given a court date with an immigration judge, and released.  The other four were detained pending immigration proceedings.

Ronald Blount is with the United Taxi Workers Alliance of Pennsylvania:

"The Parking Authority is trying to get some legislative pull.  They want to show what a great job they doing to round up terrorists, and they made a boo-boo because most of these drivers they locked up were innocent."